University of Nottingham Leads Project to Power Kenyan Schools with Renewable Energy

The University of Nottingham is at the forefront of a groundbreaking project to transform schools in Kenya into sustainable energy hubs. The African SCENe (Sustainable Community Energy Networks) project, funded by the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund, aims to provide reliable and affordable energy to underserved communities. By leveraging renewable energy technologies, the project will empower schools to generate their own electricity, reducing reliance on traditional, often unreliable, energy sources. This will not only improve the quality of education but also benefit the wider community. The project team, led by Professor Lucelia Rodrigues, has worked closely with communities in Nairobi to develop a sustainable business model for these energy hubs. By integrating energy generation, storage, and distribution systems, the project aims to create resilient and self-sufficient communities. The African SCENe project is part of the UK government’s broader commitment to supporting clean energy innovation and addressing global energy challenges. By investing in research and development, the UK government aims to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. “I am delighted we have been awarded Ayrton Fund to put the results of our feasibility study into practice. African SCENe addresses 13 Sustainable Development Goals and has the potential to significantly improve lives…
BATCOM Secures £26,060 to Transform Community with Compost

BATCOM (Brimscombe and Thrupp Community Composters) has successfully raised £26,060 through a crowdfunding campaign on the Stroud Funding platform. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the community-led initiative, which aims to transform an abandoned industrial plot into a thriving composting site. The funds raised will enable BATCOM to install six composting bays, transforming tonnes of green waste into nutrient-rich compost for the local community. The project has garnered significant support from both local residents and Stroud District Council, which contributed £4,000 to the campaign. Councillor Beki Aldam, Chair of SDC’s Community Services & Licensing Committee, expressed her delight at BATCOM’s success, stating, “I’m delighted that our first community-funded project has reached its goal. BATCOM’s success is an inspiration to other projects and shows the potential for community ideas to thrive.” The Stroud Funding platform, launched in September, empowers local communities to raise funds for projects that benefit their neighborhoods. By partnering with Spacehive, a leading community crowdfunding platform, Stroud District Council aims to support innovative and sustainable initiatives. The platform is currently hosting 16 projects, each seeking financial support to address various community needs, from environmental sustainability to social well-being. To learn more about these projects and contribute, please…
AHDB Launches Groundbreaking Environmental Baseline Study for UK Farms

A pioneering project to measure the environmental impact of UK farms is set to commence this month. The initiative, led by AHDB, will involve 170 farms across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using advanced LiDAR technology, specialists from Bluesky will scan the farms to estimate above-ground carbon stocks and assess potential runoff. This data, combined with soil carbon and nutrient testing, will provide a comprehensive environmental baseline for each farm. The project aims to establish a standardized dataset for the beef, lamb, dairy, pork, cereals, and oilseeds sectors. This data will enable more accurate reporting of emissions and environmental impact, helping farmers to make informed decisions and improve their sustainability practices. “We are thrilled to have selected 170 diverse farms to participate in this groundbreaking project,” said Chris Gooderham, AHDB’s Environment Director. “By understanding the environmental footprint of our farms, we can work towards a more sustainable future for the agricultural industry.” Sam Ward, a participating farmer from Lincolnshire Pork Co., expressed enthusiasm for the project: “We are keen to quantify our farm’s carbon footprint and identify opportunities for reduction. This baseline data will help us on our journey to a more sustainable future.” The project is supported by Quality Meat…
Major Construction Contracts Awarded for UK’s First Gas-Fired CCS Project

A consortium of leading engineering firms, including Costain and Wood, has secured significant contracts to construct a groundbreaking carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) project in Teesside, UK. The £4 billion project, led by Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT), a joint venture between bp and Equinor, will involve building a 742 MW gas-fired power plant equipped with carbon capture technology. The captured carbon dioxide will be transported and stored offshore in the North Sea. Construction is expected to commence in mid-2025, creating thousands of jobs during the construction and operational phases. The project is set to be operational in 2028, marking a significant milestone in the UK’s efforts to decarbonize its energy sector. The project’s success hinges on the collaboration of several key players, including Technip Energies, GE Vernova, TechnipFMC, and Genesis. These companies will contribute their expertise in various aspects of the project, from power generation and carbon capture to offshore storage. The UK government’s investment of £21.7 billion in CCS clusters, including Teesside and Merseyside, has provided crucial support for this project. By prioritizing the development of low-carbon technologies, the government aims to position the UK as a global leader in the fight against climate change. The Net…
Sizewell B Nuclear Power Station Returns to Service

Sizewell B Power Station, the UK’s largest nuclear power plant, has successfully returned to service following a major maintenance and upgrade program. The £75 million investment has enabled the plant to continue generating low-carbon electricity for the nation. During the outage, engineers carried out a comprehensive range of maintenance tasks, including refueling the reactor and replacing a turbine rotor system. Additionally, divers inspected the plant’s intake pipe to ensure its continued safe and efficient operation. Robert Gunn, the station director, said: “Our teams have performed an amazing job. They completed 15,000 separate pieces of work across 1,500 pieces of our plant.” “We even sent divers to our intake pipe, which draws in the water we use in our operations, for inspections,” added Mr Gunn.”Because of this work we now have a hugely improved picture of what is happening in our plant and reactor. We plan to extend the life of our plant, beyond 2035 to 2055, so understanding what is happening inside all of our systems is vital.” The return to service of Sizewell B is a significant milestone for the UK’s energy sector, as it contributes to the country’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and ensuring a reliable energy…
EU Recognizes High-Potential Tech Projects with STEP Seals

The European Commission has unveiled the first list of projects awarded the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Seal. This prestigious recognition highlights innovative projects in clean and resource-efficient technologies, as well as deep and digital technologies. The 130 projects selected for the STEP Seal represent the cutting edge of European innovation. They include initiatives focused on offshore wind energy, hydrogen technologies, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. By awarding the STEP Seal, the European Commission aims to increase the visibility of these projects and facilitate their access to public and private funding. This recognition will help these projects attract investment and accelerate their development. Welcoming the announcement, EU commissioner for budget, anti-fraud and public administration Piotr Serafin said that the 130 projects showcase “Europe’s ingenuity and commitment to reducing our strategic dependencies while boosting our competitiveness”. “The STEP Seal is more than just a badge – it serves as a bridge between promising ideas and the support they need to thrive, whether through public or private investment,” Serafin added. The European Commission’s commitment to supporting innovation and technology is evident through its various initiatives, including the Innovation Fund, the Digital Europe Programme, the European Defence Fund, the EU4Health program, and…
UK Government Pledges to Streamline Infrastructure Approvals

The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has announced plans to streamline the approval process for 150 major infrastructure projects. This move is part of the government’s broader strategy to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy and boost economic growth. The government’s focus on streamlining the planning system comes amid growing concerns about the current process, which has often been criticized for its complexity and delays. By simplifying the approval process, the government aims to expedite the development of critical infrastructure, including renewable energy projects, transportation networks, and digital infrastructure. The UK’s renewable energy sector has been particularly affected by the lengthy planning process. The government’s recent approval of 1.3GW of solar PV projects demonstrates a commitment to accelerating the deployment of clean energy. However, challenges remain, such as the complex National Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) process, which can be time-consuming and costly. Industry stakeholders, including RenewableUK, the CPRE, and the Aldersgate Group, have identified several issues with the current NSIP regime, including a lack of strategic planning, resource constraints, and uncertainty in the process. To achieve the government’s ambitious target of 150 major infrastructure projects, significant reforms to the planning system will be necessary. The…
UK Launches Innovative Birdsong Project to Monitor Biodiversity

The UK Agri-Tech Centre and Chirrup.ai have joined forces to pioneer a groundbreaking project that utilizes birdsong as a key tool for unlocking the secrets of wildlife. This innovative approach, dubbed “ChirrupNano,” aims to revolutionize nature monitoring by providing an affordable and efficient solution for measuring and managing biodiversity. Funded by Innovate UK, ChirrupNano leverages the power of birdsong to gain insights into wildlife populations that might otherwise remain unseen in traditional nature reserves and backyard bird counts. Hayley Gerry, project manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, highlights the project’s potential: “The amount of knowledge we can gather about an area’s biodiversity simply by analyzing the bioacoustics of birdsong is truly remarkable.” ChirrupNano plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable farming practices. By fostering multi-species habitats, the project aims to enrich agricultural landscapes, ultimately contributing to the long-term sustainability of livestock and arable production. Gerry emphasizes the importance of establishing a baseline: “To achieve this goal, we need a way to measure the current state of biodiversity. That’s precisely where ChirrupNano comes in.” Scheduled for a large-scale rollout across the UK in Spring 2025, ChirrupNano promises to transform the way we monitor and manage our natural environment. This innovative project…
University of Oxford Expert Contributes to UNESCO’s Future of Education Project

Dr. Arathi Sriprakash, a researcher at the University of Oxford’s Department of Education, recently participated in UNESCO’s inaugural international forum on the Futures of Education. The forum, hosted by the UNESCO Korean National Commission in Suwon, South Korea, brought together policymakers, practitioners, and academics from around the world to discuss the future of education and explore innovative approaches to addressing global challenges. Dr. Sriprakash, who is also part of the Reparative Futures of Education (Repair-Ed) project, contributed to the discussions on mobilizing knowledge and research for just and sustainable futures. She emphasized the importance of dialogic and participatory approaches in shaping educational policies, highlighting the role of young people, teachers, parents, and communities as key stakeholders. Drawing on the insights from the Repair-Ed project, Dr. Sriprakash discussed the concept of “reparative pedagogies” and the need to address structural violence in global education policy. She emphasized the importance of aligning educational practices with broader societal goals of justice, equity, and sustainability. The Repair-Ed project, hosted at the University of Oxford, is a collaborative effort that brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds to explore the potential of education to address historical and contemporary injustices. The project’s interdisciplinary approach, which combines historical analysis,…
APM Awards Celebrate Global Project Management Excellence

Project Management Global gets exclusive access to the winners and highlights of the prestigious APM ceremony. The annual APM Awards ceremony is a glittering celebration of project excellence across all sectors. This year, Project Management Global was given a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes and delve deeper into the stories of the nominees, winners, and guests. A Global Stage for Project Management One of the most striking aspects of the ceremony was its international focus. Compared to previous years, there was a clear shift from a UK-centric event to one showcasing projects and delivery teams from around the world. Attendees hailed from the Middle East, US, and Asia, with a live stream ensuring that APM members everywhere could share the experience. Award Winners Spotlight Project Management’s Impact While the awards themselves were a highlight, conversations with guests revealed a deeper focus on the projects’ broader impact. Dr. Khalood Rambo and Dr. Mona AlQahtani, along with their team, flew in from Saudi Arabia to receive the Social Project of the Year award for their Scholarship Program for the Royal Commission for AIUIa. This project, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, aims to transform AlUla into a cultural and tourism hub…